"You're breaking the contract!" My father screams, his fist slamming down on top of the cold hard surface of the council room. The opposing Alpha just stares coldly. He never spoke, his forest green eyes calculating the room and the Alphas in it.
"Do you have anything to say for yourself?" One of the council men began. "Breaking the contract means war between the North American packs. The war would cause quite a large sum of warrior deaths among civilians and property. It's just simply unnecessary. We cannot and will not support it!"
My heart pounds at the walls of my chest as I sit beside my father. I knew everyone could hear it but I didn't care. The Alpha never looked at me, a matter of fact, he avoided my gaze completely.
"The contract was broken the second his daughter sought refuge in their pack territory." He fumes. The Alpha leans back in his chair reaching into his pocket for an herbal cigarette. It was something he did when he was trying to restrain himself. I had learned this from my time with him in his pack territory. "Alpha Daniels knew she was there and never contacted me. He withheld my future wife and my her wellbeing from me."
"Well why would I have left?"
He goes ridged, his breathing momentarily non existent. The room is silent while the council men wait for an answer. He slowly brings his eyes to my own, a hard glare etched in them. My stomach drops the second his eyes pierce my own. He was absolutely livid.
"Why did you leave Amelia?" One of the council men ask. I take in a deep breath before speaking, trying my best not to sound anxious.
"I tried to kill him."
The atmosphere in the room changes completely.
"You what?" The council man asks in disbelief.
"I tried to kill him." I repeat, averting my eyesight to the white haired councilman. Drystan's gaze burns holes in the side of my face.
"This can all be avoided." Drystan adds in his velvety smooth voice. All heads turn towards him. "If Amelia returns home, with me, I will stay true to our previous agreement."
"He'll kill her the second they reach the borders!" My brother yells.
"It is not I you should worry about harming someone, it is your dear sister Jackson."
Both sides break into argument, curses and threats flying across the table.
The father council man speaks up at this time, "We will revise the contract. Including the well-being of Amelia and the trading of her for peace in the Northern America."
My father contemplates this idea before nodding his head. Drystan's people pull out a pack of papers and place them on the tables in front of my pack members and family.
"I had already known things would end this way." He states angrily.
After thoroughly reading the documents my father and everyone else in the room sign the papers. I wasn't surprised that things had ended up this way, Drystan always got what he wanted. No matter how many loop holes he went through to get it. He always got what he wanted. This time it was me. My father slides the contract across the desk for me to sign. I couldn't bare to look at anyone. The disgust and anger I felt within myself was overpowering. A sigh leaves my lips as I quickly leave my signature on the paper.
A small lady comes and collects the documents before disappearing behind a large brown door.
"Is it settled then?" Drystan's Beta asks. Everyone in the room nods their head in agreement.
"Amelia, this is effective immediately. The packs of the North and the men of the Council are grateful for your sacrifice." The white haired man states. I nod my head in acknowledgement before Drystan stands up and walks around the table to me. He doesn't even look at me when he speaks out.
"I will be in the car."
He walks past me into the hallway and out the building. I want to tell my family goodbye but I don't want to break down right now. I could always call them later, that is if Drystan was in a forgiving mood. I carry my long legs out of the room after Drystan, his body just a few meters ahead of me. When he reaches the door he holds it open and gently closes it behind me. I was now in front of him just a few feet away from the road. The sweet southern breeze on the top of my tongue. Freedom was so close but I knew Drystan would catch me or I'd escape and thousands of wolves would die because of me. Drystan's men would kill every wolf in combat and then seize their lands, claiming them as their own.
I take in a shaky breath and close my eyes for a second to regain whatever strength I had left. I knew that I was stuck this time, there was no escaping this one. A black car pulls up in front of me. Drystan's body comes directly behind me as his arm reaches around me to open it. I can feel the frustration radiating off his body. I step up into the car and slide down the seat. I always sat on the right side so I was somewhat uncomfortable. Drystan's large frame slides in beside me about a foot of space between us. The door closes and the driver pulls off. We had a long ride ahead of us.
Drystan had spoken very few words to me this whole day. I had expected him to scream at me, even try to hurt my father for payback but nothing. I hadn't seen him in a year and a half and he had no questions.
"Buckle your seat." He hisses.
"Well you're not wearing one." The alpha huffs and reaches over the seat to fasten me in. His hand rests on my thigh while he does so. His scent clouds my senses in our close proximity.
"Fuck." He curses, fumbling with the seat buckle. It was stuck in the slot. He fumbles with it a few more seconds before giving up and plopping back down into his own seat. He reaches behind himself and checks the seat belt before sliding onto the middle seat beside me, his warm hands sliding under my thighs. The alpha pulls me on top of him, my thighs on each side of his hips, my small frame towering over his own. I place my hands on his chest to prevent myself from falling. Drystan's eyes connect with my own and he immediately tenses up underneath my finger tips. His eyes swirl with emotion, emotions that I hadn't ever seen from him.
"Drystan." I begin looking down at him. His hands squeeze around my thighs slightly. Drystan's pupils dilate as he slowly drags the tip of his tongue across his full bottom lip. "I'm sorry."
" For what? " he growls. "You only stabbed me and trashed my house."
" That was your fault. " I protested angrily. Within a millisecond I feel his fingers grip around my throat. The Alpha pulls my face closer to his, "Really? It was my fault?"
The Alpha's eyes burn with rage as he surveys my facial features. I try to push away from him but he tightens his grip on both my neck and my thigh.
"I vividly remember telling you not to run from me." He recalls, rubbing my neck with his hand. "But you didn't listen because you never listen."
My hand stings as it connects with his face. The loud slap noise echoing through the car. Drystan growls lowly bringing his eyes back to mine. I slap him again, a tear slipping down my cheek .
"You killed my best friend. My only friend!" I scream, streams of water leaving my eyes. " I hope you burn in hell. I fucking hate you!" Drystan lets go of my throat and returns his hand under my thigh to place me in the seat he was previously in. The Alpha reaches across my and fastens my seatbelt before sitting on the left side of the car. My hand covers my sobs while I look out the window, trying to stifle my emotions. My chest contracting in pain with each breath I take. Drystan fumbles through his suit pockets before handing me a purple handkerchief and my favorite herbal cigarette.
I had accidentally introduced them to him and his pack members when I'd first arrived. I told him I wouldn't stay with him if his members were smoking in the pack house, the smell of cigarette smoke gave me headaches and I didn't like the awful smell they left behind. Nicotine and tobacco were disgusting to me, I couldn't stand the idea of them so I stuck to my herbal vapes.
I snatch the vape from him and take in a deep breath. Allowing the lavender and vanilla essence to calm my anxious and angry body. I let out a shaky breath, the smell spreading throughout the car. Drystan cracks open the window while I smoke. I wipe my tears away with the backs of my hands as we pull into the interstate headed North.
"We'll only drive half way there and then take a break. " Drystan starts. "We have an twenty hour or more drive in whole. You should sleep." Drystan hands me a pillow and my favorite blanket. I nod my head in understanding before placing the pillow on the car door and wrapping my arms around it. Drystan wraps the blanket around my body making sure I wasn't cold.
"Thank you" I mumble laying my face on my cool pillow. I slowly drift off to sleep, mentally preparing for what lay ahead.